Class Announcements: 2014

Murrell Rickards Werth, (Mrs. Matthew Werth), died October 7, 2014 at 91 years of age after a long battle with myasthenia gravis. She is survived by her husband, Matthew F.M. Werth, Jr., her sons, Garrett Rickards Bowden of New York City, and Sidney Lee Bowden, of Dorset, Vermont and her grandsons, Austin and Tanner Bowden.

Murrell was the daughter of Everingham Rickards and Frances Payne Murrell. Her father was owner and manager of Rickards Lumber Company in Norfolk, Virginia. Her mother was the first graduate of Sweet Briar College in 1910. She had one brother, Garrett Rickards, who was killed in World War II on Okinawa in the South Pacific.

Murrell attended Meadowbrook Grammar School and Blair Junior High in Norfolk. She attended Miss Turnbull's Private School for Girls to prepare for Sweet Briar College, from which she graduated in 1944 and later in 1968 received the Outstanding Alumna Award. She also studied Art in Provence, France, Mexico, New York and Norfolk.

During the War, Murrell worked for the Army Corps of Engineers drafting plans for the dredging of the Norfolk Harbor. She also worked at the Pentagon in the Counterintelligence Department. She married Sidney Bowden, Manager of Wilder Theaters, and had two sons, Garrett Rickards Bowden and Sidney Lee Bowden.

Murrell moved to New York City in 1958 where rented a brownstone on the Upper East Side so that her sons could attend The Browning School. She was a member of The Colony Club, the Colonial Dames, St. James Church, and did fundraising work for both her church and the Yorkville Community Society where she was two-time chairwoman of their historic charity ball for the benefit of underprivileged children in Yorkville. She also joined the New York Skating Club.

Murrell traveled extensively with her children in Neuilly, Paris, France. While in France, her devoted and constant companion was Prince Michael Petrovic-Njego of Montenegro.

While living in New York City, Murrell met and married William Irving Patrick, an executive with Exxon Oil Company, and became stepmother to his two children. While Mr. Patrick was serving as coordinator of Exxon's South American affiliates, the family moved to Caracas, Venezuela where she studied painting with Pierre Desenne and participated in many art shows there.

Murrell eventually returned to the U.S. with her two sons, and returned to the Upper East Side of Manhattan where she served on the board of directors of the Knickerbocker Greys. She was also a member of the board of "Dancers" and belonged to "Waltzers". She studied art with New York artist, William Kasso.

To spend time outside of the city, she bought 25 acres in the town of Strafford, Vermont, and built a vacation home there, which she dearly loved and cherished.

While attending St. Bartholomew Church in New York, Murrell met and married Carl Theodore Chadsey. She worked as a travel agent for Gotham Travel. During this time she made numerous trips to Norfolk to visit her ailing mother until her mother's death in 1993. After her mother's death she decided to move back to her roots in Norfolk and bought a home in Ghent on the Hague which she restored and redecorated. While restoring the home, she met and married Matthew Fontaine Maury Werth, Jr.

During her lifetime, Murrell was a benefactor of many cultural and charitable organizations, including the Chrysler Museum, Physicians for Peace, Church of the Good Shepherd, and many others. She was a member of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. on Sat., Oct. 11th at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd with The Rev. James Medley officiating. A visitation with friends will be in the Norfolk Chapel of H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. from 5 to 6:00 P.M. on Friday evening. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd. Online condolences may be made at www.hdoliver.com.
Posted November 4